Multi-price vending machine



Jan. 24, 1967 J. SCHENDORF ETAL 3,300,0i4

MULTI PRICE VENDI NG MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1965 INVENTOR. JOHN SCHENDORF 8 IRVING GOLDBERT A r ram/v5 x- 1967 J. SCHENDORF ETAL. 30 5 MULTI-PRICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet p,

FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

JOHN SCHENDORF a IRVING GOLDBERT ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1967 J. SCHENDORF ETAL 3,300,014

MULTI-PRICE VENDING MACHINE Filed. Dec. 30, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet :5

i Ill INVENTORS JOHN SCHENDORF 8| 7 IRVING GOLDBERT ATTORNEY 24, 1967 J. SCHENDORF ETAL 3,300,014

MULTI-PRICE VENDING MACHINE 7 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Dec 30, 1965 INVEN'IORS. JOHN SCHENDORF a IRVING GOLDBERT FIG. 4

iMjjmQ ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1967 J. SCHENDORF ETAL 3,300,014

MULTI-PRICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG, 6

INVENTORS. JOHN SCHENDORF a mvms GOLDBERT ATTORNEY 1967 J. SCHENDORF ETAL 3,309,014

MULTI-PRICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet o FIG-7 INVENTORS. JOHN SCHENDORF IRVING GOLDBERT Jan. 24, 1967 J. SCHENDORF ETAL 3,300,014

MULTI-PRICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I N VEN TORS. JOHN SCHENDORF 8| F/G. Y IRVING GOLDBERT A T TOR/V5) XVLMQ.

United States Patent 3,300,014 MULTI-PRICE VENDING MACHINE John Schendorf, Metuchen, N.J., and Irving Goldbert,

Mountainside, NJ. (P.O. Box 231, North Ave., Garwood, NJ. 07027); said Schendorf assignor to said Goldbert Filed Dec. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 517,611 10 Claims. (Cl. 194-1) This invention relates to multi-price vending machines, and more particularly to coin operated machines of the semi-automatic type for selectively controlling the sale of goods having varying monetary value.

Heretofore many machines have been developed for the purpose of vending such items as candy and cigarettes, but these machines have been complex, costly to manufacture, and difficult to repair because of their greater number of moving parts.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a vending machine having a minimum number of parts so that it may be cheaply manufactured and easily repaired.

Another object is to provide an economical machine which can be set to deliver goods respectively at a large number of different prices from a large number of combinations of different coins.

Such vending machines are provided with operating members such as plungers, and delivery members such as cross rods. Also, there is on the market a coin counting mechanism which drives a control member such as a shaft, through successive increments as successive coins are received;

According to the present invention, the counting mechanism control member is provided with cams, and the machine is provided with stop members which have apertures through which the delivery members pass. These stop members have tracks provided with catch pockets intermediate the ends thereof.

The invention also provides detent members with pins riding in the stop member tracks, and the detents are adapted to engage humps on the cams when a proper number of coins has been received. This holds the pins of the detents out of the catch pockets, and thereby permits the delivery members to move the stop members forward, with the tracks thereof passing over the pins for the delivery stroke.

When the properhurhber of coins have'not been received, the detents enter respective notches in the cams, to cause the pins to enter the catch pockets, which prevents the delivery members from completing the delivery stroke.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the multi-price coin control for the vending machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through a dispensing machine to which the invention is applied;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view looking up under the dispensing mechanism of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the parts in the second price position;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view in the third price position;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view in the coin return position;

FIGURE 7 is a view of the parts delivering the coins to the till;

FIGURE 8 is a similar view when no coins have been inserted;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded view of the coin counter cams; and

FIGURE 10 is an end elevation showing the coin return mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention utilizes a known coin counting mechanism (such as National Rejectors, Inc., model SCS) which drives a control member such as a shaft 10 having thereon a zero disk 12 and three cams 14, 16 and 18, each having alternate humps and notches staggered with respect to the other cams, and which rotate through successive increments of small angles as each successive coin is received. Cooperating with these cams are three detents shown as hook plates 20, 22 and 24, preferably having a common stationary pivot 25.

In zero position, all of these hooks clear the cams by a definite clearance. By presetting these cams on the shaft, the machine can be set to select any three different delivery prices; for example five, thirty and fifty cents; or thirty, ninety, and a dollar and ten cents.

Each of these hook plates has a pin 21 slidable along a track such as a slot 23 in corresponding stop members shown as lever plates 26, 28 and 30, preferably having a common stationary pivot 31. The slot 23 is preferably arcuate, centered on the pivot 31. Each slot 23 has a catch pocket 27 in the lower wall thereof, into which the pin 21 drops when the hook thereof is in the cam notch.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dispensing machine has an operating member shown as a plunger or pull handle 32 with a depending short finger 34. This finger engages rocker arm 36 to move forward a delivery member shown as a cross rod 38. This rod rides in an aperture shown as a slot 35 in the first stop or lever plate 26. However, if no coins have been received, the shaft 10 Will remain in the zero position, or if an insufficie'nt number have been received, the shaft 10 will only rotate a small amount, so that in either event the notch of the first cam 14 will be under the hook of the first plate 20. Thus the rod 38 in the slot 35 will move the first stop or lever plate 26 forward, but the pin 21 on the first detent or hook plate 20 will descend into the catch pocket 27 of the first stop or lever plate 26, thus preventing the delivery of any article.

When the number of coins received amounts to the smallest or first price for which the mechanism is set, the first cam 14 has rotated through an angle suflicient for the hump theerof to prevent the hook of first plate 20 from entering the notch thereof. This prevents the pin 21 thereon from entering the pocket 27 of the first stop or lever plate 26. Second and third lever plates 28 and 30 are cut away as at 29, to permit the rod 38 to move forward, carying only the lever plate 26 therewith. The pin 21 being out of the pocket 27 rides in the slot 23, so that the first lever plate 26 may go forward for the full def livery stroke of the handle 32.

During the latter part of forward stroke as shown in FIG. 7, the rod 38 cams upward the lever 40 which is pivoted on a screw 39, as shown in FIG. 6. The other end of the lever 40, as shown in FIG. 9, is pivoted on a swing ing plate 41 having therein a slot '43. In this slot is a pin 45 of the counter mechanism, which is depressed to reset the counter to zero.

Further movement of the rod 38 cams upward the lever 46, the other end of which, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, pulls spring 48 and dumps coin box 50 into till 52.

- When the number of coins received amounts to the medium or second price for which the machine is set, both first and second cams 14 and 16 have rotated through a larger angle, sufficient to have their humps prevent the hooks 20 and 22 from entering the cam notches, but the third cam 18 has its notch receiving the third hook 24 which lets it down.

As shown in FIG. 2, the depending longer finger 54 trips the tab 56 on rock shaft 58 to move the trip 60 up to engage the socket 62, which raises the third hook 24 to the position shown in FIG. 4. This keeps the hook out of the notch in the third cam 18, and prevents the pin 21 of book plate 24 from engaging the catch pocket 27 of the third lever plate 30.

The long finger 54 also engages the rocker arm 51 to move rod 53 forward. This rod passes through slot 55 in the third lever plate 30, and a similar slot in the second lever plate 28, but terminates short of the lever plate 26. Thus the rod 53 takes lever plates 28 and 30 forward with it, but has no effect on the first lever plate 26.

When the number of coins received amounts to the highest or third price for which the mechanism is set, all three cams 14, 16 and 18 have their humps preventing all three hook plates 20, 22 and 24 from entering any of the cam notches. Hence the lifter tab 56 is not used, but the long finger 54 engages both rocker arms 36 and 51 to move forward both rods 53 and 38 to complete the delivery stroke for the third price.

As shown in FIG. 10, the coin return mechanism comprises an operating plunger 62, which pushes flange 64 on bell crank 66, the other arm of which bears on roller 68. This roller operates the slug rejector in the casing 71, so that bad coins can be returned. The flange 64 also pushes lever 70, the flanged lower end of which pushes down roller 72 on the pivoted plate 41, as shown in FIG. 6, which resets shaft to zero position.

The lower end of lever 70 has an upper flange bearing on roller 74 journaled on strip 76 which has inclined slots 78 therein. Stationary pins in these slots cause the strip 76 to move inwardly as it goes down. As shown in FIG. 10, lateral flange 80 on the bottom of the strip 76 engages flange 82 on the receptacle 84 and dumps return coins into chute 86 as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 1, lever 70 has a flange 88, which as shown in FIG. 2, engages lever 90, the bottom of which, as shown in FIG. 3, engages pivoted dog 92 which pushes bars 94 to lock the machine.

What is claimed is:

1 In a vending machine having operating members adapted to selectively operate delivery members, in combination with a coin counter mechanism driving a control member through successive increments as successive coins are received, a plurality of cams on said control member each having alternate humps and notches staggered with respect to the other cams, stop members having apertures through which said delivery members pass, said stop members having tracks provided with catch pockets intermediate the ends thereof, and detent members having pins riding in said tracks, said detents being adapted to engage humps on said cams when a proper number of coins have been received so as to hold said pins out of said catch pockets, and thereby to permit said delivery members to move said stop members forward with the tracks thereof passing over said pins for the completion of the delivery stroke, said detents being adapted to enter respective notches in said cams when the proper coins have not been received, to cause said pins to enter said, catch pockets to prevent completion of the stroke of sai delivery members.

2. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the proper coins for the lowest price cause the hump of the first cam to come under the first detent to keep the pin thereof out of the path of the catch pocket in the first stop member, and the apertures for the delivery member in the second and third stop members are cut away to clear the delivery member to complete thestroke thereof.

3. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the proper coins for the medium price cause the first and second cam humps to come under the first and second detents to prevent the pins thereof from engaging the catch pockets in the first and second stop members, but the notch of the third cam is in position to receive the third detent, in combination with means actuated by said operating member for raising a trip to keep said third detent out of said third cam notch.

4. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the proper coins for the highest price cause the humps of all three cams to prevent all three detents from entering the cam notches, in combination with a second delivery member passing through apertures in said sec- 0nd and third stop members and terminating short of said first stop member.

5. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said stop members are lever plates pivoted on a common axis, said detent members are hook plates pivoted on a common axis parallel to said lever plate axis, and said tracks are arcuate slots centered on said lever plate axis.

6. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in combination with means actuated by the latter part of the delivery stroke of said delivery members for resetting said counter mechanism to Zero.

7. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in claim, 6, in combination with a coin return mechanism, and means actuated by said coin return mechanism for actuating said counter resetting mechanism.

8. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in.claim l, in combination with a till, a pivoted coin box receiving the proper coins from said counter mechanism, and means actuated by the final part of the delivery stroke for dumping said coin box into said till.

9. Multi-price vending machine as claimed in claim 8,

v in which said counter mechanism has a slug rejector de- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,058,700 10/1936 Leis et a1. 194-93 2,279,665 4/1942 Du Grenier 194-17 3,028,940 4/1962 Holstein et a1. 194- 19 3,100,035 8/1963 Murphy 19448 3,139,167 6/1964 Wittern 194-1 3,149,709 9/1964 Schuller 194--48 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A VENDING MACHINE HAVING OPERATING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY OPERATE DELIVERY MEMBERS, IN COMBINATION WITH A COIN COUNTER MECHANISM DRIVING A CONTROL MEMBER THROUGH SUCCESSIVE INCREMENTS AS SUCCESSIVE COINS ARE RECEIVED, A PLURALITY OF CAMS ON SAID CONTROL MEMBER EACH HAVING ALTERNATE HUMPS AND NOTCHES STAGGERED WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER CAMS, STOP MEMBERS HAVING APERTURES THROUGH WHICH SAID DELIVERY MEMBERS PASS, SAID STOP MEMBERS HAVING TRACKS PROVIDED WITH CATCH POCKETS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, AND DETENT MEMBERS HAVING PINS RIDING IN SAID TRACKS, SAID DETENTS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE HUMPS ON SAID CAMS WHEN A PROPER NUMBER OF COINS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED SO AS TO HOLD SAID PINS OUT OF SAID CATCH POCKETS, AND THEREBY TO PERMIT SAID DELIVERY MEMBERS TO MOVE SAID STOP MEMBERS FORWARD WITH THE TRACKS THEREOF PASSING OVER SAID PINS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE DELIVERY STROKE, SAID DETENTS BEING ADAPTED TO ENTER RESPECTIVE NOTCHES IN SAID CAMS WHEN THE PROPER COINS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, TO CAUSE SAID PINS TO ENTER SAID CATCH POCKETS TO PREVENT COMPLETION OF THE STROKE OF SAID DELIVERY MEMBERS. 